What artful masterpiece can you put together in five minutes?

At the third annual flower arranging battle in Ota, Tokyo this summer, spectators got to find out! Although the traditional art of ikebana (flower arrangement) in Japan is often thought of as an almost meditative practice in aesthetics, in recent years interest has been drummed up through regular events that pit expert and amateur flower specialists alike against one another.

The “hanaike flower arranging battle” held in May at the Ota Market (where flowers are often bid on by wholesalers and florists) demanded that participants create an improvised ikebana piece in just five minutes.

Viewers voted on each work across different categories, much as one would at a sports match. They have so little time, yet seem to be so calm!

A quick Youtube search reveals there’s a few other videos of the event, so have fun checking it out!

Happy Friday!